A Good Man Is Hard To Keep

Like everything else that is to come in the next 48 hours, the placement of that billboardalong with the others on his route downtown and the scrolling marquee by his hotel that read Hi Paul, lace uppractice in 5was thoughtfully planned, the wording pored over in meetings.

- Royce Young

It’s a Tuesday in late June, and all over Oklahoma City, email inboxes are about to catch fire. When the subject line “Russell Westbrook’s Summer Hype House Party” hits the accounts of Thunder season-ticket holders, prominent local businesspeople and other connected fans, only the first 500 to click on a link will get on the RSVP list for the June 30 event. The final line of the invite reads, “The FOMO will be real.”

Word of the party starts circulating around Oklahoma City immediately, with most people curious—and confused. The invitation is vague; no address is included, and it won’t be sent to confirmed guests until 24 hours before the party. Invitees are told they can bring three other guests, but some of them must sign a nondisclosure agreement. No media allowed.

But most of all, the timing is … odd. The party is happening just a few days later— the night before free agency opens. There is already a growing buzz around Oklahoma City that Westbrook’s teammate Paul George is leaning toward signing another deal, but this party invite intensifies the hype: There has to be more to this.

Four days later, at a sprawling mansion in an OKC suburb, Westbrook walks onto a stage set up in a spacious backyard in front of the crowd. When the cheering subsides,he takes the microphone and says he wants to introduce a surprise guest.

“I want you to give him a real Oklahoma City welcome,” Westbrook says. “He’s been here for a year, but … you know.”

George, who has walked onstage to Westbrook’s left, lifts his microphone.